The Late Night Coffee Drinkers

Johnny Revisited

John knows loneliness well - it is felt at home, overseas, in the company of others and sometimes even alone. Financially content, mentally stable, emotionally okay but sexually not that satisfied. For expats who are overly choosy and highly educated, not at all an issue unless they make an issue out of it. It is better to stay away from unnecessary drama.

The sun is setting the duo felt bored waiting for the magical scenery to take place. "John would want to meet us" Millie informed her, and Olivia accepted the invitation.

Half way through their usual Cafe, they bumped into Francesca. Seeing her is somehow a relief to Millie, she brings good vibes.

The usual introduction of two people meeting for the first time through someone else they know. Millie silently hoping that slightly narrow thinking Olivia would give Fran a chance. It's like meeting a new barista for the first time who only had brewed less than two hundred cups, a coffee savvy would be wary with the outcome of the brew.

"Are you going somewhere" Millie had been waiting for Fran's to send her a text message so she would know her number, which Fran never did. John saw them standing at mid point, and approached them. She forgave Fran, understanding that it is difficult to find someone to trust these days. "I was just going to the convenience store to buy a bottle of water" wearing a pair of shorts, a ribbed fabric t-shirt and a pair of heeled sandals. Francesca is beautiful, and seemingly the beautiful women in South East Asia are normally the transgender. Her humility while also maintaining a level of snobbery which make her an authentic person had won Millie's sincere friendliness.

John walked faster as he wanted to approach them, that's just how friendly he is. "Hi" he greeted the ladies.

Intuitively, John knew it was Millie who became friends with Fran not Olivia. Millie has a warmth of liberalism, having felt as a minority wherever she goes. This something special about her that made John comfortable telling her about his cross dressing.

"Why don't you join us" he invited them for coffee, and all joined.

John walked with Olivia, considering Francesca's identity and feelings she's better off with the more open-minded Millie.

"You didn't text me" it was the first time Millie had ever been sincerely warm to a local. "I was busy, but don't worry we will have to go out soon" Fran said, and Millie was the first woman whom she had met who treated her with such respect. More often that not, people just walk past her especially in a conservative religious country. She didn't see her as a transgender nor as a sex worker, she is her friend.

"Much as I need to talk about sex, Olivia is too tight lipped... I just want to let loose and be myself" Millie told her. "Okay uncle fucker, I'll handle this" she gave her a warm smile.  "Who are they" Fran held on to her handbag. "He's a friend named John. He's really nice from Toronto, Canada, and the other is Olivia from Poland quite narrow minded" she gave her the warning as a precaution.

"How was your day" his tone of voice is warm and friendly but John is humble despite his success. By success that means a well paid job, a very comfortable life (still a stereotypical expat life before Asia emerged: a driver, a maid, a centrally located apartment, a salary many can dream of and a job title to aspire to have) and not much of a dead end job. Millie is successful with all the details and meticulous information she handles though not well paid but her opinion column is sometimes on front page op-ed of the Times like that of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Roger Cohen - a prominent essayist. "We had lunch, coffee and checked out this rooftop bar" she answered coolly still assessing John as a person. John is not alien to judgmental people at all.

At the cafe, there were many people occupying two tables one for them and one for their things - a usual sight for irregulars and many regulars alike especially among locals. The barista recognised them, the 'nice regulars' as they're classified. John took their orders and treated them to coffee, Olivia stayed with John to help him carry a tray while the other two reserved a place for them to sit.